Ch 5: The Scroll and the Lamb
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1.2. The scroll and the Lamb (5:1)
5:1 Then I saw in the right hand of him who sat on the throne a scroll with writing on both sides and sealed with seven seals. 2 And I saw a mighty angel proclaiming in a loud voice, "Who is worthy to break the seals and open the scroll?" 3 But no one in heaven or on earth or under the earth could open the scroll or even look inside it. 4 I wept and wept because no one was found who was worthy to open the scroll or look inside. 5 Then one of the elders said to me, "Do not weep! See, the Lion of the tribe of Judah, the Root of David, has triumphed. He is able to open the scroll and its seven seals."
Rev 5:6 Then I saw a Lamb, looking as if it had been slain, standing in the centre of the throne, encircled by the four living creatures and the elders. He had seven horns and seven eyes, which are the seven spirits of God sent out into all the earth. 7 He came and took the scroll from the right hand of him who sat on the throne. 8 And when he had taken it, the four living creatures and the twenty-four elders fell down before the Lamb. Each one had a harp and they were holding golden bowls full of incense, which are the prayers of the saints. 9 And they sang a new song:
"You are worthy to take the scroll and to open its seals, because you were slain, and with your blood you purchased men for God from every tribe and language and people and nation. 10 You have made them to be a kingdom and priests to serve our God, and they will reign on the earth."
11 Then I looked and heard the voice of many angels, numbering thousands upon thousands, and ten thousand times ten thousand. They encircled the throne and the living creatures and the elders. 12 In a loud voice they sang:
"Worthy is the Lamb, who was slain, to receive power and wealth and wisdom and strength and honour and glory and praise!"
Rev 5:13 Then I heard every creature in heaven and on earth and under the earth and on the sea, and all that is in them, singing:
"To him who sits on the throne and to the Lamb be praise and honour and glory and power, for ever and ever!"
14 The four living creatures said, "Amen," and the elders fell down and worshipped.
This section should be read with Phil 2:5-11 in mind, which describes his obedience to death and his subsequent exaltation to the highest place in heaven.
(Phil 2:5-11) Your attitude should be the same as that of Christ Jesus: {6} Who, being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be grasped, {7} but made himself nothing, taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness. {8} And being found in appearance as a man, he humbled himself and became obedient to death-- even death on a cross! {9} Therefore God exalted him to the highest place and gave him the name that is above every name, {10} that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, {11} and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.
Some authors have pointed out that there are parallels between chapters 4 and 5.
- God on the throne (4:2) The Lamb on the throne (5:6)
- Seven spirits of God (4:5) Seven spirits of God (5:6)
- Living creatures circle throne (4:6) Living creatures circle the throne (5:6)
- Twenty-four elders worship God (4:11) The elders worship the Lamb (5:9)
It should be noted that the worship of both God in the previous chapter and the Lamb in this chapter is proof of the divinity of the Lamb. Worship is one of the themes of the previous chapter and this chapter and is included to demonstrate that only God and the Lamb are to be worshipped. God, because he is the creator, and the Lamb because he is the redeemer. Neither the beast or angels or demons or idols are to be worshipped only God (see 9:20, 14:7, 9, 19:10, 22:9). Unlike Daniel 12:9 the scroll is not sealed, but is unsealed Rev 5:1-6:1.
v1 - Then I saw in the right hand of him who sat on the throne a scroll with writing on both sides and sealed with seven seals. - The scroll reveals the will of God for the world; in the Roman world a will was witnessed by seven persons and each person attached his seal to the document. The seals show the secrecy of the document. The scroll with seven seals had writing on both sides (Rev 5:1) it contains a great deal of writing. The scroll reveals the complete redemptive plan of God through human history from the cross to the end of time into eternity. The redemptive plan of God is fulfilled finally in 21:6 when God announces 'it is done'. Having created a new heaven and new earth, we see the new Jerusalem, the bride, God announces that he will dwell with men, the old order of things has passed away and then he finally says it is done. The seven seals refer to the divine completeness of his plan. In Ezek 2:9-10 we also find that when Ezekiel was commissioned by God he was given a scroll with words of lamentation, mourning and woe written on both sides of it which he was to prophecy. In 10:2 ff. a mighty angel holds a little scroll which John is told to eat and then prophesy again (10:8-11) the little scroll refers to the prophecy of this book. To the prophets God's plan of salvation remained sealed, but once Jesus died and rose again God's plan is now fully revealed to his servants, especially to Paul and then to all people especially the saints (Rom 16:25-26, Eph 1:9-10, 3:1-6, Col 1:25-27). But here we find that the scroll is sealed with seven seals, the seals must be removed in order for the contents to be revealed and fulfilled. The rest of Revelation is concerned with the opening of the seals and revealing the contents of the scroll. This section deals with the qualifications and fitness of the only one who can open the seals and reveal its contents.
One of the key questions to be answered is whether the contents of the scroll follow in chronological order when the seals have been opened or whether the contents gives more detail to what is described as the seals are opened.
v2 - And I saw a mighty angel proclaiming in a loud voice, "Who is worthy to break the seals and open the scroll?" - Who is worthy to break the seal and reveal man's destiny in God's plan, not just any man can do this. This is an introduction to the One who is worthy. However God does not open the seals, mans destiny must be achieved by man, but what man is worthy of this honour? There is one man in human history who is worthy. He who overcame, as our representative man, the forces of evil; who pleased God in every aspect of his life, even death on a cross. In 22:10 John is told not to seal up the words of the prophecy of the book because the time is near (for their fulfilment), in the same way someone must break open the seals and open the scroll for its contents to be fulfilled in reality.
v3 - But no one in heaven or on earth or under the earth could open the scroll or even look inside it. - No one was found in the entire creation (in heaven or on earth or under the earth, compare with Phil 2:10) who was worthy to open the scroll, later all creation from 'every creature in heaven and on earth and under the earth and on the sea' praises the one who can open the scroll, Rev 5:13. It cannot be read until the seals are broken, see Isa 29:11.
v4 - I wept and wept because no one was found who was worthy to open the scroll or look inside. - He wept because God's plan would remain unfulfilled, unless someone could be found to open the scroll and reveal its contents so that they could become a reality and be fulfilled.
v5 - Then one of the elders said to me, "Do not weep! See, the Lion of the tribe of Judah, the Root of David, has triumphed. He is able to open the scroll and its seven seals." - The elder introduces the one who can open the scroll i.e. the executor of the purposes of God and the heir of the inheritance of the world (see 11:15, Johnson). The Lion of the tribe of Judah refers to Gen 49:9 and is a title of Jesus who descended according to the flesh from the tribe of Judah. Jesus is the root of David, as well as descendant of David, Isa 11:1, 11:10, Jer 23:5, Zec 3:8, 6:12, Mat 22:41, Rev 22:16 this probably emphasises his human and his royal ancestry. Jesus has triumphed as a man, i.e. has overcome, see Rev 3:21, (Note triumphed is same word in Greek as overcome) therefore he is worthy to open the scroll, see v9. He triumphed as a man (Phil 2:8), especially at the cross where he disarmed the powers and authorities (Col 2:15), he was slain, v9, and is now seated with God 'far above all rule and authority, power and dominion' (Eph 1:20-21) and therefore he is able to open the scroll of mans' destiny. We see later in verse 13 the result of this triumph when 'every creature in heaven and on earth and under the earth and on the sea, and all that is in them', sing praise to the God and the Lamb. He is the second Adam, the first Adam failed. It is appropriate that the Lamb is introduced as the one who can open the scroll and its seven seals because in 1:1 we find that God has given this revelation to his Son, see verse 7 'He came and took the scroll from the right hand of him who sat on the throne'. This book is an unveiling and so the Lamb can open the scroll and its seven seals to reveal its contents for the benefit of the church.
The Lamb
v6 - Then I saw a Lamb, looking as if it had been slain, standing in the centre of the throne, encircled by the four living creatures and the elders. - He looks expecting to see a lion and instead 'I saw a Lamb, looking as if it had been slain', this is the first mention of the Lamb, the Lamb occurs 30 times in the book. This is a clear reference to Jesus, both John and Peter refer to Jesus being the Lamb of God (John 1:29, 36, 1 Pet 1:19), 'Look, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world! (John 1:29). Paul call Jesus our Passover lamb who has been sacrificed (1 Cor 5:7). The Lamb looked as if it had been slain, this is a reference to the crucifixion, but he is standing because he rose again. In one brilliant stroke John portrays his central theme of NT revelation--victory through sacrifice (Mounce). The Lamb of God is alluded to in Genesis 22:7 when Abraham is about to sacrifice Isaac, Isaac asks where the lamb for the burnt offering, and Abraham replies 'God himself will provide the lamb for the burnt offering my son'. He is the Paschal lamb of the Passover, Exo 12:3-21, when the destroying angel saw the blood of the Lamb on the lintels of the doors he passed over the Israelites and killed the first born of the Egyptians instead. Isa 53:3 ff. is one of many Messianic mentions of the lamb in the OT but it is probably the greatest, he describes the Messiah as 'like a lamb to the slaughter, and as a sheep before her shearers is silent, so he did not open his mouth'. Jesus is standing in the centre of the throne, the centre of heaven, this is also referred to in 7:17. Stephen, the first martyr, saw Jesus standing at the right hand of God, Acts 7:55. Rev 3:21 refers to Jesus seated on his Fathers throne after he had overcome. The Lamb here is symbolic of Jesus, no author questions that the Lamb is Jesus. Johnson notes that 'slain' literally means 'throat cut' and links the Messiah to the OT Passover Lamb. Here John joins the OT royal Davidic Messiah with the Suffering Servant of Isaiah (Isa 42-53).
The image of a Lamb refers to the life and death of Christ during his first coming, when he came as a helpless baby into the world and died a tortuous death on a cross. He died an early death and hence Lamb rather than sheep is used, the Lamb also speaks of his innocence. It speaks of his humility (Phil 2:5-8), later in the next few verses it shows his exaltation (Phil 2:9-11), and when he comes again to the earth it will be as the lion, the Lord of lords and King of kings. Goldsworthy makes the point that if we want to see the Lion as our Saviour rather than as our judge we must first find Him in the Lamb, i.e. as our substitute for our sin on the cross. Then when He comes again in His glory, which he has now and is described in Revelation, we will be like Him for we shall see Him as He truly is (1 John 3:2). In Revelation here and elsewhere (1:13-18), the exalted Christ is revealed, this has to be accepted by faith now, but he will be openly revealed to world when he comes again (1:7, 6:12-17, 19:11-21).
In the previous verse the elders says that the lion of the tribe of Judah has triumphed and yet we see a lamb bearing the marks of slaughter. This illustrates one of the lessons that God wants to teach his people through this book, that victory is achieved through sacrifice and death. Thus we find later that the beast is allowed to wage war against the saints and to defeat them, 13:7, just as Jesus was crucified by wicked men it spelt apparent defeat, but he rose again, death could not hold him. We find that the saints overcome the devil by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony, they did not love their lives so much as to shrink from death (12:11). Those in Smyrna who are faithful to the point of death will receive the crown of life (2:10). Just as Christ was obedient to death on a cross, therefore God has exalted Him, so those who are obedient to death will reign with Him (Mat 10:22, 2 Tim 2:12, Rev 2:26, 20:6). As Rom 8:36 indicates, Christians follow their Lord being sheep to be slaughtered, but this does not separate us from the love of Christ, Revelation is a commentary on this.
v6 - He had seven horns and seven eyes, which are the seven spirits of God sent out into all the earth. - This is no ordinary Lamb. The seven horns are a symbol of complete, full strength (Deu 33:17), seven meaning complete and the horn meaning strength or power (1 Sam 2:10, Psa 18:2, Zec 1:18-21). Compare with the dragon (Rev 12:3) and the beast with ten horns (Rev 13:1), see also Daniel's beast with ten horns (Dan 7:7 ff.). Also the beast out of the earth having two horns like a lamb (Rev 13:11). The seven eyes which are the seven spirits of God sent out into all the earth, meaning the Holy Spirit who searches the spirit of a man (Prov 20:27). Compare with 'the seven spirits before his throne' (1:4), and the seven lamps blazing before the throne which are the seven spirits of God (4:5). This image comes from Zec 4:2, 10. The same passage is used of the two witnesses in 11:4 to demonstrate that they operate in the power of the spirit. The gold lampstand with seven lights on it represents the Holy Spirit, the seven lights are the seven eyes of the Lord which range throughout the earth, Zec 4:10. The lampstand with seven lamps was placed opposite the table with the bread of the Presence on it, outside of the Holy of Holies in the Holy place (Exo 26:35) and represents the Spirit of God. In 1:14 and 19:12 Christ's eyes are described as like blazing fire. Jesus received the Spirit without limit (John 3:34). Johnson sees 'the seven spirits of God sent out into al the earth' as probably a symbolic reference to the Holy Spirit who is sent forth by Christ into the world (1:4, 4:5, cf. a similar view of the Spirit in John 14:26, 15:26, 16:7-15).
v7 - He came and took the scroll from the right hand of him who sat on the throne. - The Lamb is the only one who can have such intimate access to God, he is worthy to take the scroll, v9. As the perfect sinless man and as God he is able to approach God on our behalf, 1 Tim 2:5. He would take the scroll from God's right hand because he would be standing 'at God's right hand -- with angels, authorities and powers in submission to him' (1 Pet 3:22). Stephen when he was martyred saw Jesus standing at the right hand of God (Acts 7:55-56 see also Eph 1:20-22, Col 3:1, Heb 1:3). Heb 1:13 says "Sit at my right hand until I make your enemies a footstool for your feet". We find in Revelation first a vision of Christ at the right hand of God, then a description of his enemies then the destruction of his enemies. This event here mirrors the origin of Revelation itself 'which God gave him (Jesus) to show his servants what must take place soon' (1:1). See also John 3:35 'The Father loves the Son and has placed everything in his hands', and John 5:20-23, 17:2, Mat 11:27. God has given to Christ the work of executing His plan of salvation, the work of redemption on the cross is complete, but his enemies have not been defeated, and he must reign until they are defeated (1 Cor 15:24-28, Heb 10:13) and hands the kingdom to his Father. The rest of Revelation shows his enemies at work fighting against the church and their defeat.
v8 - And when he had taken it, the four living creatures and the twenty-four elders fell down before the Lamb. Each one had a harp and they were holding golden bowls full of incense, which are the prayers of the saints. - They fall down before the Lamb who is worthy to take the scroll from God and open it. They worship the Lamb as they worshipped him who was seated on the throne in 4:9-11, this indicates the divinity of the Lamb; worshipping God is one of the messages of Revelation. As representatives of the church the elders have harps as do the saints (Rev 15:2). The harp is a symbol of praise (Ps 33:2). As representatives of the church they present the prayers of the church before God.
v8 - they were holding golden bowls full of incense, which are the prayers of the saints. - The elders representing the church were also holding the golden bowl full of incense (Lev 2:1-2, 16:12-13), which are the prayers of the saints (Psa 141:2). In the tabernacle the altar of incense was in the Most Holy place together with the gold covered ark of the covenant (Heb 9:3-4). The prayers of God's people are linked to God's purposes on the earth that unfold with the opening of the seals. See also the seventh seal with the golden censers, in which an angel was given incense to offer, with the prayers of the saints, on the golden altar before the throne, 8:3. There, a direct link is established between the saints' prayers and God's response, which are the seven trumpets, in that the golden censer holding the incense is also used to hurl fire to the earth, Rev 8:5. The trumpets and the seven bowls (15:7) are God's answers to the prayers of his people, he will vindicate his elect, Luke 18:6, see the third bowl (16:5-6).
v9 - And they sang a new song: "You are worthy to take the scroll and to open its seals, because you were slain, and with your blood you purchased men for God from every tribe and language and people and nation. {10} You have made them to be a kingdom and priests to serve our God, and they will reign on the earth." - The elders sing a similar new song that the 144,000 sing, see Rev 14:3, in praise of the one who became a man and purchased men for God. It is a new song because Jesus had only recently ascended to heaven having lived on the earth and was crucified, arose and ascended to heaven. This is an entirely new event in the history of heaven, prior to the incarnation this song could not have been sung. A new song is mentions in Psa 33:3, 96:1 and 144:9. The elders clearly distinguish between themselves and the redeemed and therefore cannot be redeemed men themselves. The elders use the term them to describe the redeemed instead of us. Note the KJV is wrong in using us, see also NASB which uses them.
v9 - "You are worthy to take the scroll and to open its seals, because you were slain - He is worthy to open the scroll because he obeyed God's will to the death, even death on a cross, Phil 2:8. The elders answer the angels cry in v2 "Who is worthy to break the seals and open the scroll?", The angels answer in v12 that He is worthy, all creatures answer in v13, he is 'now crowned with glory and honour because suffered death', Heb 2:9.
v9 - with your blood you purchased men for God from every tribe and language and people and nation - This starts with the phrase 'with your blood you purchased men for God' he himself has done this, he shed his own blood and in doing so has redeemed men for God out of Satan's kingdom, Rev 14:4. The church has been bought by the blood of Christ (1 Cor 6:19, Acts 20:28, 1 Pet 1:18). They are purchased 'from every tribe, language, people and nation' this is one of the great keys to evangelism, to spread to gospel to each of these four groups (see Dan 7:13). Note the all inclusive nature of the redeemed in this fourfold description of the redeemed from the four corners of the earth. This phase is also used of the inhabitants of the earth (Rev 11:9, 13:7, 14:6) and yet we see here that some of these are eventually saved. We see here that because Jesus purchased (ransomed) men for God by his own blood he is also entitled to reveal and fulfil God's plan for mankind by opening the seals. Johnson notes that Jesus' death secured a salvation universally applied to all classes and peoples of the earth (cf. 7:9).
v10 - You have made them to be a kingdom and priests to serve our God, and they will reign on the earth." - This is a repetition of 1:6, it is Jesus who has made the saints to be a kingdom and priests to serve God by his death on the cross. They have been rescued from the kingdom of darkness and brought into the kingdom of the Son, Col 1:13. Their reign on earth could also refer to the millennial reign of Jesus and his saints. They will serve God, His people are His servants, see 1:6, 7:15, 22:3. For other references to reigning with Christ in Revelation see also Rev 1:6, 7:15, 11:15-17, 22:3, 22:5. In Rom 5:17 those who receive God's gift of grace and righteousness will reign in life through Jesus Christ, this is reigning in life now, not in the future.
v11 - Then I looked and heard the voice of many angels, numbering thousands upon thousands, and ten thousand times ten thousand. They encircled the throne and the living creatures and the elders. - It is now the angels turn to praise the lamb, they have less importance than the living creatures and the elders who are closer to the throne. Compare with the description in Dan 7:10 'Thousands upon thousands attended him; ten thousand times ten thousand stood before him'.
v12 - In a loud voice they sang: Worthy is the Lamb, who was slain, to receive power and wealth and wisdom and strength and honour and glory and praise! - In 4:11 the elders worship God as being worthy, now the angels worship the Lamb as being worthy. After the elders and the living creatures the angels join in praise to the Lamb with a sevenfold doxology. In verse 4 He is worthy because He triumphed as a man, the representative man in heaven, the second Adam. He fulfilled God's will on earth and in doing so made it possible that men could enter heaven. He now receives his reward, he is now crowned with glory and honour (Heb 2:9). The angels worship Christ as God, note that John is told to worship God not the angel giving him the revelation.
v13 - Then I heard every creature in heaven and on earth and under the earth and on the sea, and all that is in them, singing: - Then the rest of creation on the earth and under the earth, meaning the dead, join in praise to the Lamb. Every creature not just the redeemed will in the end acknowledge Jesus Christ as Lord. Thus is fulfilled Rom 14:11 (quoted from Isa 45:22) and Phil 2:10. This helps demonstrate the unity of scripture and in particular the book of Revelation with the rest of scripture. Revelation has to be read with both the OT and NT in mind. The point being made is that it is the Lamb, unlike the beast, who is worthy of praise and honour.
v13 - "To him who sits on the throne and to the Lamb be praise and honour and glory and power, for ever and ever!" - The praise will last for ever and ever because God and the Lamb live for ever and ever. The praise is fourfold, wealth, wisdom and strength are missed out from the angels doxology. Notice that God and the Lamb are linked together here in praise and they are linked elsewhere in Revelation.
- The wrath of him who sits on the throne and of the Lamb, 6:16.
- The Lamb will be their shepherd and God will wipe away every tear, 7:17.
- The reign of God and the wedding of the Lamb, 19:6.
- As the temple and as its light, 21:22.
- Source of the river of life, 22:1.
- The throne of God and of the Lamb, 22:3.
v14 - The four living creatures said, "Amen," and the elders fell down and worshipped. As in 5:8 the elders fall down before the Lamb in worship, who is supremely worthy of worship, unlike the beast of 13:4. They fell down to worship the Lamb in the same way as they had worshipped God in 4:10 indicating the Lamb's divinity for only God is to be worshipped (14:7, 19:10, 22:9). The worship of the elders represents that of the church, see Rev 5:8 where the elders hold the golden bowls full of incense, which are the prayers of the saints. Following the praise and worship the Lamb opens the seals, Rev 6:1.